Leg brace



Dec.

G. A. BURROWS 2,456,046

LEG BRACE Filed March 24, 1947 Qnuantor Glen 1. Burrows (Itlomeg Patented Dec. 14, 1948 um-Ten- STREETS PATENT OFFICE poo. BEAUEI Glen A: nu -lo s, costume, .N.- 0. Application Moraine 1941, swarm-weenie 4 claims. 128-60) This invention relates mica-braces. and more specifics-1hr to an improved type oi leg brace adapted for supporting crippledioot members in cases of paralysis and the like.

Inisuch cases, control oil-the paralysed toot member is'aimpeired .so that :theioot c'hnhothe manipulated properly in walking. And while it is usually desirable to allow some enklemovemerit during walking for exercise 0! the aflected root member, unless some means is provided for controlling this ankle movement, the toe of the foot member will drag as itis brought forward for each succeeding stride, and walking will consequently be difficult.

The leg brace 01' the present invention is adapted to avoid this diilioulty so that ankle movement may be allowed while at the same time preventing toe drag. An important feature of the invention is an improved type of stirrup barrel adapted for attachment to the heel of a shoe or the like, and arranged so that the side arms of a leg brace may be easily assembled and detached trom the shoe. This arrangement makes it possible to equip several pairs of shoes with the improved form of stirrup barrel of this invention, and assemble the side bars of the leg I The present invention is described more in do tail below in connection with the accompanying drawing. in which:

Fig. 1 is a side elevation showing the side arms oi a leg brace assembled with a shoe equipped with a stirrup barrel constructed according to 'the present invention;

Fig. 2 is a. corresponding end view;

Fig. 3 is a detail, partly In section and partly exploded, illustrating the improved stirrup barrel of the present invention and the manner in which the side arms of a leg brace are .associeted with the stirrup barrel;

F18. 4 is a similar detail oriented on the line 4-4 of Fig. 8; and

Figs. 5 end 5 are fragmentary details illustrating the pivoting movement of the side arms with respect to the stirrup barrel.

With reference first to Figs. 1 and 2 ot the drawing, the leg brace oi the present invention is shown associated with a usual type 01' shoe l0. As shown. the leg brace comprises a stirrup barrel II, which is attached to the heel of shoe in. The stirrup barrel l l is or generally tubular form and is adapted by means of a. plate element I! having suitable fastener receiving apertures t3 2'. (see 4) for attachment on the shoe llllas shownc 'I'hertubularform ot'stirrup berrelzli provides an internal bore ior aocommodatingathe pivot pins I I of the sidebars l5. These side bars [5 may-booiany suitable dorm. and length-es is:pree scribed-onappropriateiin agiven instance.

Stirrup barrel It is further formed with extending arm portions l6 carrying stop elements H at their extending ends. The stop elements ll may take the form of integral lugs, or they may consist of pins. such as are indicated in the drawing (see Fig. 8) fitted to the extending arm portions 16 and secured in place with solder or by weldinz.

he the stop elements ll are disposed at the extending ends of the arm portions it. they are spaced iron: the point oi pivoted assembly oi side bars I! with the stirrup barrel H, and they are accordingly adapted for limiting the pivoted movement of the side bars I ll with respect to stir rup barrel ll. The side here It are slotted as at ill to receive the stop elements I! so that their pivoted movement is limited in this manner, the extent of the movement being determined by the size and position 01' the slots ill provided. Preferably, the stop elements l1 are tapped to receive retaining screws (9 so that the side bars 15 may be assembled as a unit with the stirrup barrel ll. although this lecture is not necessary and may be eliminated if desired.

The action 01 the leg brace 01' the present invention may be illustrated by reference to Figs. 5 and 6 of the drawing. In Fig. 5, the relative positions assumed by the side arms l5 and stop elements ll during each forward stride are 11- lustreted. As each iorward stride is made, the toe oi shoe l0 tends to drop, as mentioned above, and would drag were it not prevented by the limiting action of stop element I? in the slot 18 oi side arms l5. This limiting action halts the toe drop and maintains the foot with an acceptable posture for completing the forward stride.

As the forward stride is completed, however.

and the other foot is brought forward in turn,

the stop element ll shirts in the slot It as lllustrated in Fig. 6, and allows side arm 15 to pivot on-stlrrup barrel ll so that ankle movement is obtained for exercise of the foot member to which the leg brace is attached.

I claim:

1. A leg brace comprising a stirrup barrel adapted for attachment to the heel of a shoe or the like, side arms pivotably associated with said stirrup barrel, and means for limiting the pivoting movement of said arms with respect to said stirrup barrel comprising arm members disposed to extend upwardly from said stirrup barrel adjacent the upper of said shoe and carrying stop elements at their extending ends disposed for engaging said side arms in spaced relation to the point of pivoted association with said stirrup barrel and thereby limit pivoting movement of said side arms with respect to said stirrup barrel.

2. A leg brace comprising a stirrup barrel adapted for attachment to the heel of a shoe or the like, said stirrup barrel being formed with extending arm members carrying projecting :lugs at their extending ends, and side arms pivotably associated with said stirrup barrel, said side arms being formed with slots diposed to receive the lugs on said extending arm members when said side arms are associated with said stirrup barrel, whereby said lugs engage said side arms in spaced relation to the point of pivoted association with said stirrup barrel and thereby limit pivoting movement oi. said side arms with respect to said stirrup barrel.

8. A leg brace as defined in claim 2 and further characterized in that a retaining screw is associated with the lugs on said extending arm mem- 4 bers for assembling said side arms as a unit with said stirrup barrel.

4. A leg brace comprising a stirrup barrel adapted for attachment to the heel of a shoe or the like, said stirrup barrel having a tubular form and being formed with extending arm members carrying Projecting lugs at their extending ends, and side arms fitted with laterally disposed pins adapted for insertion in the bore of said tubular stirrup barrel whereby said side arms may be pivotably associated with said stirrup barrel and thereby disposed for engagement with the lugs on said extending arm members in spaced relation to the point of pivoted association with said stirrup barrel so that pivoting movement of said side arms with respect to said stirrup barrel is limited.

GLEN A. BURROWS.

REFERENCES CITED UNITED STATES PATENTS Name Date Fisher Feb. 10, 1931 Number 

